Shortly after arriving at the Nature Lodge, we booked an evening howler monkey hike. Alvin, Dr. Young’s father, filled in for the usual guide Russell for the walk. I couldn’t quite understand what Alvin was trying to explain to us, except the times when he pointed to the numerous cowpies on the road. Some random local villager (who turns out to also works at the neighboring Community Baboon Sanctuary) shows up and joins us. He leads the way to the monkeys, and starts hooting and howling at them. He hands us some mangos, and of course bananas, to feed the monkeys. One came down, grabbed my right arm, unclenched my fist that was holding a piece of fruit, and snatched it away from me. He was still holding my arm tight with his nails scratching me, as he ate. Karen had one nip her hand. Humans cannot contract some howler monkey disease, right?
On side note, there are no actual baboons at the Community Baboon Sanctuary. Baboon is a term the locals use to refer to the monkeys.
